DD is half Asian, half white. Is one better to declare for college applications?

[Anonymous]

Friends kid got into the foreign service through a minority program due to hispanic heritage. Gotta wonder what the fsi spanish teacher thought as he struggled to pass the course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The fact that this discussion has to be held is a sad commentary.

And yet, if you have a kid whoas applied to TJ or attends TJ, you are surprised it isn't being discussed more. "Diversity" at TJ and top colleges is a hot button issue in highly competiive academic settings (aka how can white students compete with the Asian cram school mentality). And TJ is an excellent example of why. A high concentration of Asian students means hard working, motivated kids, and great test scores. In fact, a high school that is considered the best in the country. But, it can also create a very high pressure environment, mental health issues, adversity to creativity and intellectual risk taking and issues with cheating. So there is a downside to not having a more balanced class.

There are no easy answers.

[Anonymous]

This makes me so incredibly sad. I'm mixed race/AA and have yet to "enjoy" any of the school or employment advantages that people think minorities get (but don't deserve). Instead, I worked my rear off to show guidance counselors that I was college material, to impress professors who looked right past my raised hand, and to prove to hiring committes that I was the best fit. And you folks are seriously worried about how to hide your kids are half-Asian...
I have seen it all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm half Asian and half white. When I applied to universities, I looked up their race statistics and picked the race based on that. So in PP's example where a campus is 40% Asian, I'd definitely choose white. However some schools, especially in the midwest, are really white so being Asian can help there.

This is the most helpful answer on this thread, in my opinion. Some posters seem to condemn the idea of "playing the game" to any extent, but you will definitely increase your child's odds of acceptance if you do this sort of basic research and strategizing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This makes me so incredibly sad. I'm mixed race/AA and have yet to "enjoy" any of the school or employment advantages that people think minorities get (but don't deserve). Instead, I worked my rear off to show guidance counselors that I was college material, to impress professors who looked right past my raised hand, and to prove to hiring committes that I was the best fit. And you folks are seriously worried about how to hide your kids are half-Asian...
I have seen it all.

Not saying it's not tough to be AA, but stats do show that the system is stacked against asians for colleges. You can't deny that AA (and whites) don't have to score as high as Asians to get into top schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We opted not to specify our race categories on FCPS' forms but did indicate what languages we speak at home. Guess what, we a few years later found out that our mixed children are marked by FCPS in their system as Asians. Leaving it blank on the forms will likely just prompt the schools to choose the race category for you. BTW, it's not a myth that Asians are subjected to higher standards for college admissions.

I was told by our counselor that if you choose to leave it blank then colleges assume you're Asian. Nobody with a decided advantage would leave it blank.

Begs the question: why would they assume the student is Asian if that is left blank?

In FCPS, it is the least favorable racial category. Because they are overrepresneted in TJ admissions. I'm assuming colleges think along the same lines-- if someone won't tell, they get the least favorable treatment in admissions.

I'm telling my kids to check on other. They are half asian/white, with a white sounding last name. Would they assume half asian? I guess so. I guess they would assume that if you are half black, then you'd check that since it gives you a leg up, but if you are half asian, you'd not mention it since it's the least favorable racial category.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Asian for college. White for everything else in life.

Works really well until someone calls your kid a chink. Get real.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Asian for college. White for everything else in life.

Works really well until someone calls your kid a chink. Get real.

Chinese people call whites laowai or gweilo (which literally means ghost man).

[Anonymous]

The Asian exam cram schools and the deceptive practices on college applications, this explains why the colleges can't just look at grades and test scores. African American's, Hispanic and whites aren't lying on their applications.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This makes me so incredibly sad. I'm mixed race/AA and have yet to "enjoy" any of the school or employment advantages that people think minorities get (but don't deserve). Instead, I worked my rear off to show guidance counselors that I was college material, to impress professors who looked right past my raised hand, and to prove to hiring committes that I was the best fit. And you folks are seriously worried about how to hide your kids are half-Asian...
I have seen it all.

Not saying it's not tough to be AA, but stats do show that the system is stacked against asians for colleges. You can't deny that AA (and whites) don't have to score as high as Asians to get into top schools.

Maybe, but their more interesting people and colleges don't want graduating classes full of robots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This makes me so incredibly sad. I'm mixed race/AA and have yet to "enjoy" any of the school or employment advantages that people think minorities get (but don't deserve). Instead, I worked my rear off to show guidance counselors that I was college material, to impress professors who looked right past my raised hand, and to prove to hiring committes that I was the best fit. And you folks are seriously worried about how to hide your kids are half-Asian...
I have seen it all.

Not saying it's not tough to be AA, but stats do show that the system is stacked against asians for colleges. You can't deny that AA (and whites) don't have to score as high as Asians to get into top schools.

Maybe, but their more interesting people and colleges don't want graduating classes full of robots.

Way to be a racist asshole applying absurd stereotypes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Asian exam cram schools and the deceptive practices on college applications, this explains why the colleges can't just look at grades and test scores. African American's, Hispanic and whites aren't lying on their applications.

I think Asians in the US have the support system at home, work ethic and genetic advantage to excel in academics. Studying a lot and working hard is not deceptive practices. LOL. You cannot cram for SAT!

[Anonymous]

There is only so much you can do with the SAT. My Asian American son had perfect scores and may be he cracked open a practice book for a few hours. That's all he would put into it. Thought you either had the IQ and knack for the test or not. It's really the non-educated who make too much of high scores attributing them to cram and cheating. There's a lot of fear and failure to see the best in your fellow man expressed by the people who use the robot analogy. May be you should be scared. Not because of the people you maligned but of your own insecurities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Asian exam cram schools and the deceptive practices on college applications, this explains why the colleges can't just look at grades and test scores. African American's, Hispanic and whites aren't lying on their applications.

I think Asians in the US have the support system at home, work ethic and genetic advantage to excel in academics. Studying a lot and working hard is not deceptive practices. LOL. You cannot cram for SAT!

TJ Parent. And I can't even with the "genetic advantage". If I said whites had a "genetic advantages" over blacks, people would lose their shit.

Also, hard work and studying aren't deceptive. But cheating is. TJ had over 100 honor code violations last year, including at least two large Asian cheating rings.

Why the pushback against the Asian invasion of TJ? Because the Asian parents are convinced their kids are genetically superior. And the kids aren't. The just haven't been taught in their superior home environments not to cheat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This makes me so incredibly sad. I'm mixed race/AA and have yet to "enjoy" any of the school or employment advantages that people think minorities get (but don't deserve). Instead, I worked my rear off to show guidance counselors that I was college material, to impress professors who looked right past my raised hand, and to prove to hiring committes that I was the best fit. And you folks are seriously worried about how to hide your kids are half-Asian...
I have seen it all.

Not saying it's not tough to be AA, but stats do show that the system is stacked against asians for colleges. You can't deny that AA (and whites) don't have to score as high as Asians to get into top schools.

But grades and test scores are only one part of the application process. Putting too much time and effort into grades and scores can have the effect of taking away time for other experiences that help a kid to grow and develop as a person.